Coronavirus: Everything you need to know in Montreal today

Every day in Canada, a lot of news regarding COVID-19 comes out nationally and locally.

And for now, we will be putting together Montreal and Canada’s top headlines daily to help digest the news in one place.

Throughout the day, you can see all the headlines in real-time here.

Top coronavirus stories for June 2, as of 5 pm ET:

Quebec confirms 52 more coronavirus deaths as cases eclipse 51,500

The Quebec government revealed that the province’s COVID-19-related death toll has reached 4,713, after announcing 52 more deaths since Monday afternoon.

There are a reported 239 new known cases of the coronavirus, according to the Santé Quebec website. That brings the confirmed total to 51,593 known cases with 1,175 hospitalizations, 161 of whom are in the ICU.

Currently, a reported 404,814 tests have turned up negative throughout Quebec and over 14,600 cases have been resolved.

Côte Saint-Luc to make face masks mandatory in indoor public spaces

A bylaw was adopted by Côte Saint-Luc on Monday night, mandating anyone living in or visiting the borough to wear a face mask inside public spaces.

All stores, businesses, and municipal buildings will adhere to the new bylaw, which was originally tabled on May 23.

Côte Saint-Luc’s goal is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 throughout the area which has 494 of Montreal’s 25,652, according to Santé Montreal (as of June 1).

Here’s a breakdown of Montreal’s known coronavirus cases per district

Public health has updated Montreal’s data in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Montreal metropolitan area has the unenviable role of having the most cases throughout the province.

With 25,652 known cases of the virus as of June 1, Montreal accounts for 49.6% of Quebec’s 48,598 total. Montreal also accounts for 62.5% of the province’s total coronavirus-related deaths.

The SAQ to open on Sundays throughout the province beginning this weekend

The Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) announced on Tuesday its locations throughout the province will reopen on Sundays, beginning this weekend, June 7.

The SAQ Express will also extend its business hours by closing at 7 pm each day as of this weekend.

As of this Sunday, other SAQ outlets, including the SAQ Dépôt and SAQ Sélection, will close at 7 pm on weekdays and will be open from 1 to 5 pm on Sundays.

Here are the STM metro stations that will be handing out free face masks this week

For the second consecutive week, the STM (Société de transport de Montréal) will be handing out over 300,000 reusable face masks throughout its network, an operation that will be carried out until the end of June.

The public transit network says the face coverings will be handed out in the metro’s busiest stations and in areas that have been hit hardest by the pandemic.

“It is strongly recommended that you wear face coverings on public transit and in all situations where it is not possible to maintain a sufficient physical distance from others,” states the STM website. “Covering your face should, therefore, be added to other precautions you take, such as cough etiquette and hygiene rules, to stop the spread of the virus.”